Heart Valve Repair/Replacement Surgery

Heart valve repair / replacement surgery is used to treat patients with valvular heart disease.

There are 3 main types of heart valve problems:

• Regurgitation

  Regurgitation is the name for leaking heart valves. It occurs when the heart valves don’t close tightly, allowing blood to leak back into the chambers instead of flowing forward through the heart or into an artery.

• Stenosis

  Stenosis occurs if the flaps of a valve thicken, stiffen or fuse together. As a result, the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the valve, and the body may suffer from a reduced supply of oxygen.

• Atresia

  Atresia is when the heart valve lacks an opening for blood to pass through. It can occur as a congenital disease, prior to birth, or develop later in life. Congenital heart valve disease usually involves the pulmonary or aortic valves while valve problems that develop later usually involve the aortic or mitral valves. Both kinds may cause stenosis or regurgitation.

The decision to repair or replace the heart valve will depend on your symptoms and test results.

Abnormal functioning of the aortic valve (the valve between the aorta and the left ventricle) can lead to heart failure due to reduced blood supply to the heart muscle. A narrowed or leaking aortic valve needs to be repaired.

The benefits of a successful heart valve repair surgery are:

• decreased risk of infection
• reduced need for blood thinners
• decreased risk of stroke
• conserved strength of the heart muscle
• increased chance of long-term survival

If the damaged heart valves are left untreated, advance valve disease can lead to serious, life-threatening complications.

Valve repair or replacement surgery is done to treat heart valves disease. As with any surgery, there will be some risks involved, depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure.

Preparing for a heart valve repair / replacement surgery

You will be asked to fast before the surgery. Your surgeon needs to be aware of all your past medical history, allergies and all the medications you are taking. If you smoke, you should aim to quit smoking for at least 8 weeks before your surgery.

During a heart valve repair / replacement surgery

Heart valve repair / replacement surgery is performed under anaesthesia and requires the use of a heart-lung bypass machine to keep the blood moving.

The recommended procedure may be minimally-invasive, requiring only small incisions through which surgical instruments can be inserted, or involve open heart surgery which requires cutting the chest open, through the breastbone.

Minimally-invasive procedures usually mean a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time.

Heart valve repair surgery may be performed to:

• patch holes in a valve
• reconnect valve flaps
• remove excess valve tissue
• separate fused valve flaps
• replace cords that support the valve
• tighten or reinforce the ring around the valve

In a heart valve replacement surgery, the faulty or damaged valve is replaced with:

• a mechanical valve, which will require the life-long use of blood-thinning medications to prevent blood clots
• a biological valve, made from animal or human heart tissue, which will eventually need to be replaced

After a heart valve repair / replacement surgery

Post-surgery, you will spend some time in the intensive care unit (ICU) for observation, to keep watch for signs of infection and monitor your heart activity, blood pressure and breathing. Fluids and medications will be administered intravenously. Tubes will drain urine from your bladder and fluids from your chest.

Before your discharge, you will be advised on proper care of the incisions, monitoring for infection, pain relief and managing medications.

Recovery period for a heart valve repair / replacement surgery

Recovering from valve surgery usually takes between 4 and 8 weeks. If you had a minimally invasive surgery, recover may be shorter. Follow up appointments will be required so your doctor can monitor your recovery and advise when you can return to your daily activities.

Our experienced surgeons and staff are equipped to provide the customised care you need throughout your heart valve repair / replacement surgery and recovery.

Take your first step towards better health today, and experience the quality and customised healthcare.

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